The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has hit out at what it says is clear evidence of profiteering over diesel prices. “We have no doubt diesel prices at the forecourt have rocketed as a result of the uncertainty caused by the threat of a tanker drivers’ strike,” said RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning.
“Retailers have doubled their profit margin on diesel while the wholesale price of diesel has come down. None of this has been passed on to road users and, if anything, the price at the pump has gone up.
“There is no justification for this excessive charging. Profit margins on diesel were reasonable but have doubled to around 7.4 pence a litre.
“This aggressive pricing amounts to more than the Chancellor’s hugely unwelcome duty increase due on August 1, when fuel tax goes up by 3.02 pence/litre.
“The predatory pricing by retailers is a severe blow to the economy and, of particular concern to the RHA and operators who don’t have bulk fuel supplies but make payments linked to forecourt prices.”
He concluded, “If this goes on any longer, the RHA is considering referring forecourt pricing to the Office of Fair Trading.”
